Pivotal indicator for newspaper delivery boxes



May 15, 1951 H. BISHOP PIVOTAL INDICATOR FOR NEWSPAPER DELIVERY BOXES Filed April 14, 1950 IEQLE- Patented May 15, 1951 UNITED PIVOTAL INDICATOR FOR NEWSPAPER DELIVERY BOXES Harry Logan Bishop, Youngstown, Ohio Application April 14, 1950, Serial No. 155,832

1Claim. 1

This invention relates to indicators and more particularly to an indicator which may be attached to a newspaper delivery box to indicate the placing of a paper therein.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of an indicator for a newspaper delivery box.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an indicator which may be attached to a newspaper delivery box by sliding the same into clamping position over a portion thereof.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a simply formed, easily attachable indicator for newspaper delivery boxes.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an indicator for a newspaper delivery box so formed as to enable it to be used to carry rural delivery boxes and the like with the exception that the device is applied to a tubular newspaper delivery box which is customarily formed with an opened end portion and is thereby capable of receiving the indicator formed in the manner of a clamping piece engageable over an upper portion of the delivery box, the circular shape of the delivery box facilitating the clamping action of the indicator when applied thereto. The indicator may thus be securely attached to a newspaper delivery box without any additional fastening means being employed.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a newspaper delivery box showing the indicator applied thereto. Parts of the box and indicator 'are broken away and parts are shown in cross section. Dotted lines indicate the alternate position of the indicator.

Figure 2 is an end View taken on line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the indicator shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of indicator.

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

By referring to the drawings and Figures 1, 2 and 3 in particular it will be seen that a newspaper delivery box .is enerally indicated by the numeral ID and supported by a post II and provided with an open end l2 into which a folded newspaper is positioned. The newspaper box will be seen to be of a tubular shape having a closed inner end I3. An indicator is shown positioned on the open end l2 of the delivery box ID in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the indicator comprising a bifurcated clamping piece I4 having closely spaced rearwardly extending tongues l5 and I6. A pivot pin I l of arcuate longitudinal shape is secured in the clamping piece I4 which is of transversely arcuate shape, as best shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. The clamping piece I4 is secured to the pivot pins adjacent the outermost ends thereof.

Sections of the clamping piece I4 are cut away to provide spaced openings 18 and I9 inwardly from the ends of the pivot pin l1 and to provide for the encircling of the pivot pin I! by loops 2!?! and 2| formed in a wire member 22, a U-shaped portion of which is positioned on one side of the pivot pin l1 and a pair of upright arms 22A of which extend on the other side of the pivot pin ll and carry an indicator fla 23. The indicator flag 23 may comprise a section of metal or other suitable material including transparent or semi-transparent colored plastic, if desired, and may include indicia comprising an advertisement, if desired.

The arms 22A are positioned at right angles to the U-shaped portion of the wire member 22 so that when the wire member 22 is in horizontal positionyas shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the vertical arms 22A thereof will be in vertical position as will the indicator flag 23 carried thereby.

By referring to Figure l of the drawings it will be seen that when the vertical arms 22A of the wire member 22 and the indicator flag 23 are moved to horizontal position, as shown in dotted lines, the U-shaped portion of the wire member 22 will move to vertical position and, as best illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, be positioned across the opening l2 so that any newspaper positioned in the box II] and through the opening l2 will of necessity move the U-shaped portion of the wire member 22 to horizontal position and hence the indicator flag 23 to vertical position.

In order that the device will retain itself in either of the positions shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings a cross piece 24 is positioned on the wire member 22 adjacent the loops 20 and 2| therein and a leaf spring 25 is secured to the tongue [6 and engaged against the cross piece 24. The leaf spring 25 is formed with a hump 26 inwardly from its outermost end so that the movement of the wire member 22 will slide the cross piece 24 along the leaf spring 25 and over the hump 26. The device thus acts to hold the wire member 22 in position on either side of the hump 26 in the leaf spring 25 and which positions correspond with the horizontal or vertical position of the indicator flag 23. The spring 25 thus serves to bias the indicator flag 23 to either vertical or horizontal position and serves to hold them in such position until deliberately moved therefrom. Additionally, the spring 25 urges the tongue l6 upwardly toward the ton ue l and thus enhances the clamping effect of the device when positioned on the newspaper delivery box It], as shown in Figures 1 and 2 Qf the drawmgs.

It will thus be seen that an indicator for newspaper delivery boxes has been disclosed whieh can be simply and easily formed from readily available materials and which will, due to its unique. format n, r a n n po i on o a newspaper delivery box when slidably engaged over a portion thereof as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the transverse arcuate shape of the tongues l5 and it of the clamping piece 14 exerting a mild warping tendency on the newspaper delivery box to enhance the clamping action between the tongues and E6 and the newspaper box. This occurs by reason of the formation of the clamping member is on a slightly different transverse radius than that of the newspaper box.

Modifications of the indicator for newspaper delivery boxes will occur to those skilled in the art and one such modification is shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings. In Figure 4 of the drawings a clamping member 21. is provided with an arcuate pivot pin 28 and includes a pair of outwardly extending closely spaced tongues 29 and 3D for slidable engagement with a newspaper delivery box. An indicator flag 3! is formed as a unitary portion of an L-shaped bracket 32, a portion 33 thereof being positioned at right angles to the flag 3'! and provided with upturned brackets 34 through which the outer ends of the pivot pin 28 is positioned.

A section 35 is blankedout of the L-shaped bracket 32' and bent inwardly to form a spring piece engageable against the pivot pin 2'! so as to bias the flag 3| to vertical or horizontal position. The formation of the spring piece from the blank 35 is best shown in Figure 5 of the drawings and by referring thereto it will be observed that a portion 36 of the clamping member 21 is bent outwardly to slidably engage the spring 35. The device is used in the same manner as the device illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings. The tongues 25; and 3G register over the opened edge of a newspaper delivery box with the extension 33 normally horizontally positioned within the box when a newspaper is positioned therein and thus holds the flag 3! in vertical position. When the newspaper is removed from the box, the flag 3! is moved to horizontal positien, which action moves the extension 33 to vertical position in the opening of the newspaper box in the same manner as the device illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings.

It will thus be s e that t i dica or fo new pa e d liv r b es comprises a im e and efficient device which may be economically formed and readily attached to a newspaper delivery box to indicate the presence or absence of a newspaper therein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

An indicator for a tubular delivery box, said indicator eomprising a clamping member formed of a section of material folded upon itself over a pivot pin, the ends of'the said clamping member being elongated and closely spaced with respect to one another and adapted to slidably receive a section ,of the tubular delivery box therebetween, the said pi o pin cl m in member being transversely arcuate in shape and having sections of the clamping member adjacent the pivot member cut away, a wire member of general L-shape including loops positioned about the. said pivot member in the cut away areas of the clamping member and a fiag secured to one portion of the said wire member and disposed at right angles to the portion of the said wire member on the opposite side .of the said loops.

HARRY LOGAN BISHOP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,904,448 Hampden Apr. 18, 193.3 2,519,525 White. Aug. 22. 1.9 50 

